Candidate Statements for the 2025 Election of Mutual Board Directors

As a long-standing MDA member, I have a deep understanding of matters that affect the MDA community and seek to represent the best interests of all MDA members alike – students through to specialist and non-clinical providers. I believe my background and current scope of work uniquely positions me to provide strong leadership and advocacy with a commitment to:

• Ensuring and maintaining a financially sustainable insurance organisation and medicolegal support structure for doctors
• Prioritising and optimizing member support services and risks management strategies whilst seeking to enhance axillary services to doctors via collaboration with other stakeholders
• Ensuring sound corporate governance that prioritizes accountability and transparency

A snap shot of my current and relevant skills and experience includes:

• Fellowed specialist GP actively working in the community across both community and tertiary settings
• Sitting member for the RACGP Expert Committee – Funding and Health System Reform and for the RACGP Working Group – Regulation and Compliance
• Clinical Editor for PHN Darling Downs and West Moreton HealthPathways
• Provision of medicolegal reports including provision of expert medical opinions in cases of medical malpractice cases
• Actively undertaking the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration with Melbourne Business School

I believe that my enthusiasm, care and courage to fight for a robust and sustainable organisation that values its members will make me an excellent mutual board director.

Fellowed specialist GP actively working in the community across both community and tertiary settings.

Contact Details

drlindseyjones@gmail.com
0403 083 140

Now in its 100th year, MDA National exists to support and protect doctors. As a member throughout my career and a board director for the past 9 years, it would be my privilege to serve a final term as your elected representative. If reelected, I will use this time to ensure prudent financial management, protection of member interests and maintain a core focus on provision of the highest level of medico-legal expertise and comprehensive professional indemnity cover.

I’m a GP with extensive experience working in primary care and as a medical advisor in WA Health. Clinical work has been the long-term foundation of my career which I’ve combined with health management, leadership and medical education roles. I’m a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and have a decade of experience as a board director, including the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and MDA National.

As your elected board member, I will continue my commitment to ensuring MDAN members receive support, protection and expert individualized service through all career stages.

• Registered specialist General Practitioner
• MBBS 1989, FRACGP 1994, MPH/MHLM 2022
• Medical Advisor, WA Dept of Health
  
  

Contact Details

christine.pascott@gmail.com
0401 675 400

I would be privileged to return to the Board of MDAN as a Mutual Board Director, having served in this capacity for 6 years. I am proud to have been a member of MDAN now for over 20 years.

As a still practicing Geriatrician, General Physician and Stroke Physician who also works in an Executive Director role in WA Health I believe I have a great deal to offer the membership of MDAN by providing our executive team insights around the challenges that face us in contemporary medical practice.

The pace of change and innovation in modern healthcare combined with the workforce and training challenges that face our younger generations of doctors is of particular importance to me, and I am fortunate to be able to view this from both the hospital bedside and the system manager perspective.

As the WA State Stroke Director I have been able to assist in implementing transformative system-wide changes in patient care, including the development of the WA Telestroke Service. This has given me a real understanding of the challenges of contemporary emergency department and regional and remote healthcare for junior and senior ED doctors as well as our General Practitioners.

I believe it is also the role of a board director to champion and promote new areas of focus for MDAN as it enters its century of existence, something I have always tried to do in my time on the board, and I will continue to do so.

I remain a practicing General Physician and Geriatrician and am involved in providing clincial care to older persons in Aged Care via Virtual models in WA.

Contact Details

awesseldine@hotmail.com
0403 754 355

Dr Richard Magtengaard is a Perth-based mid-career Consultant Psychiatrist in full-time private practice with 25 years of combined clinical and administrative experience across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

Richard’s professional journey began with a decade of service as a Maritime Warfare Officer in the Royal Australian Navy before completing his medical training and specialist qualifications in psychiatry.

He is Chief Medical Officer of Resolute – For Those Who Serve, a dedicated mental health service supporting Defence personnel, our Veterans, First Responders and their families.

Richard holds senior clinical and governance roles with DVA’s Open Arms National Advisory Committee, Chronic Care Australia, and contributes to MDA National’s Professional Support Service.

His practice is shaped by respect, understanding, and commitment to excellence.

Richard brings extensive experience in service leadership, governance, health service innovation, medico-legal support, and the development of new models of trauma-informed care. Passionate about disruptive health technologies and collaborative approaches, he is committed to supporting doctors and their patients through periods of challenge and change.

Richard also models the values of MDA National in his daily practice. By prioritising integrity, accountability, and professional excellence, he fosters trust and confidence among colleagues and patients alike.

His emphasis on collaboration reflects MDA National’s commitment to supporting the medical profession through shared learning and peer connection.

With compassion and respect at the centre of his approach, he actively contributes to safer, more supportive systems of care, ensuring doctors feel valued, protected, and equipped to provide the highest standards of service to their patients.

Contact Details

richard@resolute.support
0434 469 575

Dear Colleagues,

I am a psychiatrist based in Sydney and a long-standing member of MDA National. Like many of you, I have relied on our organisation’s support at times, and I want to contribute to ensuring all members continue to feel protected and well-served.

I bring a distinctive combination of experience to the Board:

• Before medicine, I studied accounting and worked in banking, insurance and superannuation, primarily in corporate strategy.
• I offer the perspective of a member who in recent years has transitioned from registrar to consultant — a critical membership demographic.
• I am a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Course, currently serve on the RANZCP Board’s Corporate Governance Committee, and have held board roles including on the Senate of The University of Sydney.
• As President of the Australian Medical Students’ Association and as an AMA State and Federal Councillor, I developed skills in advocacy, governance and member engagement.

MDA National is both a trusted professional partner and a sophisticated insurance business requiring careful stewardship of members’ funds. I understand both sides of this responsibility — clinical and corporate — and am committed to keeping member needs at the centre.

I would be honoured to contribute my skills and dedication to the Board. I seek your support in this election and look forward to serving our members.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist currently practicing full-time in the public sector in Sydney, NSW

Thank you for your consideration.

Contact Details

benjamin.veness@gmail.com
(02) 8530 0484